The information found in this history represents a life of interest in plants of the coastal region by the author. This interest undoubtedly relates to the author's roots on a Gulf Island in the Strait of Georgia. There is a special afinity with the sea and the land that is developed when one grows up on these islands. There is also great appreciation for the conservation and love of the land and its plants. This is evident in the details he gives of the plant explorations and the lore of the plants discovered. The text is full of examples of how the knowledge of plants and their habitats is essential to their utilization in our urban landscape. Clive is at ease discussing these plants. He provides many new insights into how these plants have become welcome additions to our home gardens. Clive shares his enjoyment of these plants from the aesthetic point-of-view of a skilled Landscape Architect and a plant lover. He also shares his enjoyment of their discovery by Archibald Menzies. This book is a good read, with many new and interesting facts about the plants and their collector. Any reader interested in the history of botanical collecting and the plants of this region will be much enlightened. - Roy L. Taylor, Ph.D. 1932-2013 Former Director of the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden 1968-1985